Video conference of the members of the European Council, 25-26 February 2021

Summary:

EU National leaders held a videoconference on 25-26 February 2021 to discuss the latest developments concerning the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and the overall preparedness for health threats. They also focused on security and defence matters, as well as on relations between the European Union and its Southern Neighbourhood.

Further information:

EU leaders took stock of the epidemiological situation and agreed on the need to further prolong restrictions on non-essential travel. Leaders highlighted the need to accelerate the authorisation, production and distribution of vaccines, as well as vaccination. They underlined the need to enhance surveillance and detection capacity to identify COVID-19 variants as early as possible so as to control their spread. There was also a discussion on a common approach to vaccination certificates.

Leaders agreed to launch work on strengthening the EU's health resilience going forward, and invited the European Commission to present a report on the lessons learnt from the pandemic. A discussion was held on ways to reinforce international solidarity and health cooperation.

The European Council held an exchange of views on EU-NATO relations. Strategic debates were held on the EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood and on the European security and defence policy. Leaders reviewed ongoing initiatives on investment in defence, capability development and operational readiness. They also discussed measures to increase the EU's resilience, in particular against cyberattacks and hybrid threats.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

Politico. 26/02/2021: EU leaders confront limits of powers to fight coronavirus https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-face-covid-trap-as-pandemic-fatigue-kicks-in-and-vaccine-rollout-remains-slow-going/

Euro|topics, February 2021: Vaccination certificates: back to normality? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/256995/

EPRS: At a Glance, February 2021: Outcome of the European Council video-conference of 25 February 2021 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2021)662609

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News

Politico, 23/02/2021: EU leaders to talk pandemic, defense policy in video summit https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-to-discuss-coronavirus-pandemic-defense-policy-eu-summit/

Reuters, 25/02/2021: Facing long fight with COVID variants, EU pushes to step up vaccinations https://www.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN2AP17Q

France24, 25/02/2021: EU leaders vow to speed up vaccine production at Covid-19 summit https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210225-covid-19-eu-summit-to-debate-slow-vaccine-rollout-travel-certificates

Euronews, 25/02/2021: Vaccine certificates could be available within three months, says EU chief https://www.euronews.com/2021/02/25/vaccine-certificates-could-be-available-within-three-months-says-eu-chief

EurActiv, 26/02/2021: EU leaders take baby step toward vaccination certificate, fume at pharma industry https://www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/news/eu-leaders-take-baby-step-toward-vaccination-certificate-fume-at-pharma-industry/

France24, 26/02/2021: EU leaders seek to inject energy into slow vaccine rollout https://www.france24.com/en/video/20210226-eu-leaders-seek-to-inject-energy-into-slow-vaccine-rollout

EurActiv, 26/02/2021: EU and NATO leaders aim to expand cooperation, despite dreams of ‘strategic autonomy’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/eu-and-nato-leaders-aim-to-expand-cooperation-despite-dreams-of-strategic-autonomy/

Politico, 26/02/2021: EU leaders, eyeing autonomy, get noisy on defense https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-eyeing-autonomy-get-noisy-on-defense/

Deutsche Welle, 26/02/2021: EU leaders pledge more cooperation on defense https://p.dw.com/p/3py2C

RFI News, 26/02/2021: EU leaders unite over 'vaccine passport' before summer https://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20210226-eu-leaders-unite-over-vaccine-passport-before-the-summer-summit

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Official

European Council: Invitation letter by President Charles Michel to the members of the European Council ahead of their video conference of 25 and 26 February 2021 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/02/23/invitation-letter-by-president-charles-michel-to-the-members-of-the-european-council-ahead-of-their-video-conference-of-25-and-26-february-2021/

European Council: Statement of the members of the European Council on COVID-19 and health, 25 February 2021 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/02/25/statement-of-the-members-of-the-european-council-on-covid-19-and-health-25-february-2021/

European Council: Remarks by President Charles Michel following the first session of the video conference of the members of the European Council (25 February 2021) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/02/25/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-following-the-first-session-of-the-video-conference-of-the-members-of-the-european-council/

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel, following the videoconference of the members of the European Council (25 February 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_861

European Council: Statement of the members of the European Council, 25-26 February 2021 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/02/26/statement-of-the-members-of-the-european-council-25-26-february-2021/

European Council: Remarks by President Charles Michel before the second day of the video conference of the members of the European Council (26 February 2021) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/02/26/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-before-the-second-day-of-the-video-conference-of-the-members-of-the-european-council/

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel, following the videoconference of the members of the European Council (26 February 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_883

European Commission: News, 26/02/2021: Von der Leyen at the video conference of the members of the European Council discusses vaccination, security and defence, and Southern Neighbourhood https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ac_21_892

European Council: Remarks by President Charles Michel following the second session of the video conference of the members of the European Council (26 February 2021) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/02/26/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-following-the-second-session-of-the-video-conference-of-the-members-of-the-european-council/

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