European Council, Brussels, 26-27 June 2014

Preview and reports of the European Council, Brussels, 26-27 June 2014.

Items discussed included:

- Nominating the European Commission president
- European Union priorities for the next five years
- The EU’s strategic guidelines on freedom, security and justice
- 2030 framework for climate and energy policies

The main decisions were:

- Jean-Claude Juncker chosen by the European Council for EU top job
The European Council adopted the decision proposing to the European Parliament Jean Claude Juncker as President of the European Commission after a formal vote by qualified majority.

- Strategic agenda for the Union in times of change
EU leaders agreed on a strategic agenda on the future of the EU, its priorities and purpose in the years to come.

- Ukraine
EU leaders welcomed President Poroshenko's peace plan. But the European Council regretted that the cease-fire had not led to the full cessation of military hostilities

Regarding sanctions, the European Council was committed to reconvene at any time to adopt further significant restrictive measures if a detailed list of concrete steps were not taken by 30 June 2014.

- European Semester
The European Council endorsed the country-specific recommendations thus concluding the 2014 European Semester. It called for additional efforts to strengthen Europe's capacity to grow and create more jobs

- Strategic guidelines within the area of freedom, security and justice
The European Council defined the strategic guidelines for legislative and operational planning for the coming years within the area of freedom, security and justice.

- Climate and energy
The European Council took stock of progress made towards a final decision in October on the 2030 climate and energy policy framework.

• Primary Source

viEUws, 24.06.14: Pre-EU Summit Insights: Juncker to triumph over Cameron? http://www.vieuws.eu/eu-institutions/pre-eu-summit-insights-juncker-to-triumph-over-cameron/

European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/14/500: Remarks by President Barroso ahead of the European Council http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-500_en.pdf

Euro|Topics, 26.06.14: EU sets its bearings at Ypres summit http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER145783-EU-sets-its-bearings-at-Ypres-summit

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/14/374: Statement by Herman Van Rompuy President of the European Council after the European Council's informal dinner in Ypres http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/143413.pdf

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/14/371: Speech by President Herman Van Rompuy for the inauguration by the European Council of a Peace Bench in Ypres to mark the centennial of the First World War http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/143411.pdf

ESO: Background information: EU leaders give thumbs up to Juncker, Britain isolated / Juncker: The veteran EU insider loathed by Britain [The next European Commission President] http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-leaders-give-thumbs-up-to-juncker-britain-isolated-juncker-the-veteran-eu-insider-loathed-by-britain-the-next-european-commission-president/

ESO: Background information: Britain closer to EU exit after Jean-Claude Juncker vote http://www.europeansources.info/record/britain-closer-to-eu-exit-after-jean-claude-juncker-vote/

European Council: European Council Conclusion, Brussels, 26-27 June 2014 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/143478.pdf

European Council: Strategic agenda for the Union in times of change, June 2014 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/143477.pdf

European Council: Conclusions on Ukraine, June 2014 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/143419.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/14/516: Remarks by President Barroso following the European Council http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-516_en.pdf

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/14/376: Remarks by President Herman Van Rompuy following the European Council http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/143480.pdf

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/14/377: Remarks by Prime Minister Samaras on the achievements of the Hellenic Presidency http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/genaff/143508.pdf

EurActiv, 26.06.14: France campaigns for EU border guards http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/france-campaigns-eu-border-guards-303100

EurActiv [Opinion], 27.06.14: An energy crisis bound to happen http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/energy-crisis-bound-happen-303117

EurActiv, 27.06.14: EU leaders tie slower deficit reduction to reforms http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/eu-leaders-tie-slower-deficit-reduction-reforms-303133

ESO: Background information: New EU 'strategy' fudges British, German and Italian demands http://www.europeansources.info/record/new-eu-strategy-fudges-british-german-and-italian-demands/

EurActiv [Opinion], 27.06.14: Why is our energy efficiency discussion so unambitious? http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/why-our-energy-efficiency-discussion-so-unambitious-303136

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 01.07.14: Debate on outcome of European summit http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140630IPR51007/

---