Informal European Council, 9 May 2019

Summary:

An informal summit of heads of state or government of the European Union was held in Sibiu (Romania) on 9 May 2019 to discuss the future of the Union.

Further information:

The European Council discussed the European Union's strategic agenda for period 2019-2024, which was an opportunity to exchange views on the challenges and priorities for the EU in the forthcoming years. The debate was based on the Leaders' Agenda prepared by the President of the European Council and were divided in two parts - external and internal dimensions. Leaders at the meeting also decided to meet later in the month discuss the outcome of the European Parliament elections and start the nomination process for the heads of the institutions of the European Union.

The European Council also adopted the Sibiu Declaration on the future of the European Union.

Cyprus also informed the European Council on the latest developments regarding Turkey's drilling activities within the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

Euronews, 07/05/2019: Sibiu summit: Future Of Europe is about who we are and the model we can offer to the world https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/07/sibiu-summit-future-of-europe-is-about-who-we-are-and-the-model-we-can-offer-to-the-world

Politico, 08/05/2019: Europe’s East-West divide is back, this time over climate policy https://www.politico.eu/article/climate-protest-europe-policy/

EurActiv, 09/05/2019: Climate change is a key priority for Sibiu summit on Future of Europe https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-strategy-2050/opinion/climate-change-is-a-key-priority-for-sibiu-summit-on-future-of-europe/

Euro|topics, May 2019: EU summit in Sibiu: much ado about nothing? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/219704/

Open Europe: Daily Shakeup, 10/05/2019: Stephen Barclay: Sibiu is an opportunity to look to the EU-UK future relationship https://openeurope.org.uk/daily-shakeup/stephen-barclay-sibiu-is-an-opportunity-to-look-to-the-eu-uk-future-relationship/

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News

Politico, 06/05/2019: Tusk issues formal invitation for Sibiu summit https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-tusk-summit-eu-leaders-agenda-formal-invitation-sibiu/

Irish Times, 06/05/2019: EU set to embrace politics of lowest common denominator at Sibiu https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/eu-set-to-embrace-politics-of-lowest-common-denominator-at-sibiu-1.3881979

EurActiv, 07/05/2019: Germany, Poland snub EU appeal for greater climate ambition https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-strategy-2050/news/germany-poland-snub-eu-appeal-for-greater-climate-ambition/

Euronews, 08/05/2019: Eight EU countries call for more ambitious strategy to tackle climate change https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/08/eight-eu-countries-call-for-more-ambitious-strategy-to-tackle-climate-change

EUObserver, 08/05/2019: Sibiu: EU leaders prepare post-Brexit show of unity https://euobserver.com/institutional/144831

Deutsche Welle, 09/05/2019: EU leaders discuss future of Europe at Romania summit https://p.dw.com/p/3ICsH

Bloomberg, 09/05/2019: Europe’s Promises Ring Hollow as Past Failures Haunt Summit https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-09/europe-s-promises-ring-hollow-as-past-failures-haunt-summit

EurActiv, 09/05/2019: EU leaders sideline eurozone divisions at summit on future https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eu-leaders-sideline-eurozone-divisions-at-summit-on-future/

France24, 09/05/2019: EU plans for life after Brexit and the tussle for top jobs at Sibiu summit https://www.france24.com/en/20190509-europe-romania-sibiu-eu-plans-life-after-brexit-tussle-top-jobs-council-summit

EUObserver, 09/05/2019: Use 25% of budget on climate change, urge EU states https://euobserver.com/environment/144845

Kathimerini, 09/05/2019: Tusk: EU ‘stands united’ behind Cyprus http://www.ekathimerini.com/240305/article/ekathimerini/news/tusk-eu-stands-united-behind-cyprus

The Guardian, 09/05/2019: 'I miss her,' says Juncker as EU heads meet without Theresa May https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/09/i-miss-her-says-juncker-as-eu-heads-meet-without-theresa-may

Politico, 09/05/2019: EU leaders, stressing unity, see turbulence ahead https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-stressing-unity-see-turbulence-ahead-sibiu-summit/

Deutsche Welle, 09/05/2019: EC's Donald Tusk: 'There is no Europe without the rule of law' https://p.dw.com/p/3IFrD

Politico, 09/05/2019: EU warns Turkey over oil drilling in Cypriot waters https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-warns-turkey-over-oil-drilling-in-cypriot-waters/

EUObserver, 09/05/2019: EU-27 pledge to speak in 'one voice' after Brexit https://euobserver.com/political/144859

Politico, 09/05/2019: Gender balance ‘difficult to achieve’ in top EU posts, warns Tusk https://www.politico.eu/article/gender-balance-difficult-to-achieve-in-top-eu-posts-warns-tusk/

EurActiv, 09/05/2019: Spitzenkandidaten survives Sibiu, Tusk calls summit for 28 May https://www.euractiv.com/section/euroad2sibiu/news/spitzenkandidaten-survives-sibiu-tusk-calls-summit-for-28-may/

Reuters, 09/05/2019: EU heads put climate, democracy and jobs at heart of future course https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1SF03N

Balkan Insight, 09/05/2019: EU Leaders Keep Enlargement off Agenda in Sibiu https://balkaninsight.com/2019/05/09/eu-leaders-keep-enlargement-off-agenda-in-sibiu/

EurActiv, 09/05/2019: EU heads adopt vague declaration on future of Europe https://www.euractiv.com/section/euroad2sibiu/news/eu-heads-adopt-vague-declaration-in-transylvania/

Euronews, 10/05/2019: Tusk sets date for meeting over EU's top jobs, highlighting divide between the bloc's leaders https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/09/sibiu-summit-tusk-announces-may-28-meeting-on-assigning-top-jobs

Kathimerini, 10/05/2019: Tsipras urges Ankara to dialogue, as EU expresses support for Cyprus http://www.ekathimerini.com/240323/article/ekathimerini/news/tsipras-urges-ankara-to-dialogue-as-eu-expresses-support-for-cyprus

ERR News, 10/05/2019: Struggle ahead for top EU jobs https://news.err.ee/938336/err-in-sibiu-struggle-ahead-for-top-eu-jobs

EurActiv, 10/05/2019: Juncker insists 2030 climate target is EU’s top priority, not 2050 plan https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-strategy-2050/news/juncker-insists-2030-climate-target-is-eus-top-priority-not-2050-plan/

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Official

Invitation letter by President Donald Tusk to EU heads of state or government ahead of their informal meeting in Sibiu, 6 May 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/05/06/invitation-letter-by-president-donald-tusk-to-eu-heads-of-state-or-government-ahead-of-their-informal-meeting-in-sibiu/

Non paper on Climate for the future of Europe: Joint Statement by 8 EU Member States ahead of informal European Council in Sibiu https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/05/Non-paper-Climate-FR-SE-PT-DK-LU-ES-NL-BE.pdf

European Commission: Press Release, 07/05/2019: Strength in unity: EU leaders to look ahead to common future at Sibiu summit http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-19-2392_en.htm

Remarks by President Donald Tusk at the press conference of the informal summit in Sibiu, 9 May 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/05/09/remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-at-the-press-conference-of-the-informal-summit-in-sibiu/

The Sibiu Declaration, 9 May 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/05/09/the-sibiu-declaration/

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ESO Records

White Paper on the Future of Europe: Avenues for unity for the EU at 27, March 2017 https://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-presents-white-paper-on-the-future-of-europe-avenues-for-unity-for-the-eu-at-27/

Communication ‘Europe in May 2019: Preparing for a more united, stronger and more democratic Union in an increasingly uncertain world’ https://www.europeansources.info/record/communication-europe-in-may-2019-preparing-for-a-more-united-stronger-and-more-democratic-union-in-an-increasingly-uncertain-world/

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