Donald Tusk – Photo EU Council
(BRUSSELS) – EU leaders at a summit called on the US Friday to make permanent the temporary exemption from US steel and aluminium tariffs, saying they were an “inappropriate remedy” for global problems of overcapacity.
The spring European Council focused on economic affairs, in particular on trade. Heads of state or government also looked at a number of other pressing issues, including the Salisbury attack, Turkey, the Western Balkans and taxation. They also addressed Brexit (in an EU 27 format) and eurozone (Euro Summit format).
The leaders regretted the decision by the United States to impose import tariffs on steel and aluminium.
They took note that shipments of steel and aluminium from the EU have been temporarily exempted from such measures, and called for that exemption to be made permanent.
They supported the steps taken by the Commission to ensure that the interests of the EU are fully protected and to reserve its rights, in compliance with the WTO rules, to respond to the US measures as appropriate and in a proportionate manner. “The European Council recalls its commitment to strong transatlantic relations as a cornerstone of the security and prosperity of both the US and the EU, and underlines its support for a dialogue on trade issues of common concern,” EU leaders declared in the conclusions.
On Brexit, the Council, meeting in an EU27 format, adopted the guidelines on the framework for a future relationship with the UK after Brexit. This followed an update from the Commission’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, on the state of play of the Brexit negotiations.
The EU says it wants to have the closest possible partnership with the UK, which would cover trade and economic cooperation, security and defence, among other areas. However, EU 27 leaders noted that UK’s current positions “limit the depth of such a future partnership”.
On the Salisbury attack, the summit strongly condemned the Salisbury attack and the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances. They expressed deepest sympathies to all whose lives had been threatened, lent its support to the ongoing investigation, and stressed its unqualified solidarity with the UK.
The Council has requested the EU’s foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini to recall the Head of the EU Delegation in the Russian Federation for consultations in Brussels.
The leaders also called for strengthening the EU’s resilience to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear-related risks, including through closer cooperation between the European Union and its member states as well as NATO. The EU and its member states should reinforce their capabilities to address hybrid threats.
Turkey was strongly condemned bu the Council for its continued “illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea”.
They called on Turkey to put an end to these actions and to respect Cyprus’ sovereign rights to explore and exploit its natural resources, in line with EU and international law. They also recalled Turkey’s obligation to respect international law and good neighbourly relations, and normalize relations with all EU member states including the Republic of Cyprus.
The European Council also expressed its grave concern over the continued detention of EU citizens in Turkey. It called for the swift and positive resolution of these issues.
Finally, on the Paris Agreement, the European Council invited the Commission to present by the first quarter of 2019 a draft strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas emissions reduction in accordance with the Paris Agreement, taking into account national plans.
