Michel wrote to European Council members: We face the greatest security threat since World War II

(Patria) - President of the European Council Charles Michel has published a letter he sent to the members of the European Council ahead of the upcoming meeting of that European Union body in Brussels.

The Patria News Agency publishes the content of Michel's letter below:

"Dear colleagues,

In the third year of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, we are facing a pivotal moment. Urgency, intensity and unwavering determination are imperative. Our main task is to quickly provide military assistance to Ukraine and, building on recent initiatives such as the Czech one, to procure and deliver ammunition to Ukraine quickly.

This European Council will be an opportunity to strengthen and accelerate these efforts. In addition, we must also focus on the effective implementation of our sanctions, as well as on advancing our efforts in using the windfall profits from immobilised assets.

This is also a time for a real paradigm shift in our security and defence. Europe has underinvested in its security and defence for decades. Now that we are facing the greatest security threat since World War II, it is high time we took radical and concrete steps to be defence-ready and put the EU economy on a 'war footing'. This means spending more and buying more together, and thus more efficiently.

We must also help the defence industry access private and public funds and reduce regulatory burdens and obstacles. Building this strategic security mindset requires strong leadership and an acute understanding of the urgency of the threats we face. I expect our European Council to deliver on this.

It is imperative that we address the situation in the Middle East. The atrocities committed on 7 October and the ensuing war in Gaza have crossed the line of inhumanity. Too many civilians have died. Too many innocent lives are at risk due to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the famine.

International law must be fully respected. A sustainable ceasefire is urgently needed to protect civilians, enable the safe return of hostages, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid as needed. We need to step up our efforts to prevent regional escalation, particularly in Lebanon and the Red Sea. Ultimately, the European Union remains committed to a just and comprehensive resolution between Israelis and Palestinians, with the State of Israel and a democratic, sovereign and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition.

Our attention will also be focused on agriculture. Our European farmers have made their concerns clear. We must act decisively on the challenges they face. This means reviewing the work done so far and ensuring progress without delay, particularly regarding the position of farmers in the food supply chain and fair market competition, both within the internal market and globally.

I also propose that we consider preparations for enlargement and reforms, keeping in mind that the two tracks must progress in parallel to ensure that both future Member States and the EU are ready by the time of accession.

We will also discuss the current state of migration and address various external relations issues.

On Friday, the Presidents of the European Central Bank and the Eurogroup will join us at the Eurozone summit to discuss the economic and financial situation and the continuation of close coordination and governance of our macroeconomic policies. It is high time we reaffirmed our strong determination to make decisive progress towards a deeper capital markets union, building on the measures set out by the Eurogroup in an inclusive format.

I look forward to welcoming you on Thursday."