EPP Summit Statement

26. June 2025

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Defence: our common European challenge  
  • Given the challenges in Europe’s strategic environment, we need to build up a strong deterrence capability in Europe. We want a real European Defence Union – in complementarity with NATO and respectful of some Member States’ constitutional constraints and neutrality. In close cooperation with our transatlantic partners, we support the creation of a common internal defence market, stricter, common procurement rules, new financing tools, and a stronger defence industrial base. We support the NATO-plan to spend 5% on defence, based on 3,5% military spending and 1,5% defence and security related investments. We need predictability to industry and reduction of red-tape. The EU should make every effort to help achieve these goals.
  • To ensure our collective security, we must advance towards common European defence initiatives. We must now go for truly joint European projects that enhance our collective security and are complementary to NATO where relevant. This means launching initiatives such as a shared missile defence shield, a drone army, satellite reconnaissance, improved ground combat capabilities, a cyber defence brigade, and deeper cooperation through mechanisms such as an EU rapid deployment force. Investing in strategic enablers and R&D in disruptive technologies and their defence applications also call for collective action while maintaining a strong focus on excellence. Furthermore, enhancing military mobility, ensuring the preparedness and resilience of our societies, and safeguarding critical infrastructure are essential responsibilities.
  Ukraine, European Security, and Enlargement Go Hand in Hand  
  • Ukraine’s rightful place is within the European Union. EU enlargement is not only a strategic priority—it is a geopolitical necessity. The security of Ukraine, the preservation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the achievement of a just and lasting peace are integral to Europe’s own security. The EPP remains fully committed to supporting Ukraine—now and in the future.
  • The EPP is equally committed to support Ukraine in its reconstruction. This means for example strengthening all existing tools, such as the Ukraine Facility, by frontloading it.
  • Russia continues to pose a permanent threat to the European security. We maintain all sanctions in place. Subject to EU law, Russia’s assets should remain immobilised until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates it for the damage caused by this war. The EPP supports the continuation and strengthening of sanctions against Russia, including more and robust measures to counter the activities of the Russian shadow fleet. Strengthening the security of the EU's external borders and fortifying the eastern line of defence are prerequisites for ensuring European security. The instrumentalization of migrants at the EU’s external borders remains a persistent threat, requiring our attention and continued support to affected Member States.
   Next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF): the next budget must pave the way for Europe’s future!  
  • We stand for true European added value. The next MFF must reflect Europe’s new realities, prioritizing defence, competitiveness, innovation, and external border and migration management, while ensuring sufficient funding for our traditional pillars of agriculture and cohesion. We must focus on European-wide flagship projects that people can identify as such, with clear European added value and that include support to sectors vital for our strategic autonomy. We will show clear European added value for the EU funds and must therefore provide the EU the financial tools it needs to deliver.
  • We need a budget that is flexible, simple, and principled. The next MFF must respond swiftly to multiple and interrelated challenges, cut red tape, and ensure massive simplification. At the same time, conditionality must remain firm: EU money must go only to those who respect the rule of law. Efficiency, transparency, and impact must guide every euro spent.
  • We explore options to bridge the funding gap. With limited room in national budgets to manage an increase in the volume of EU budget, the focus needs to drastically shift from distribution to targeting necessary investments. At a time when people rightly expect more from the EU, own resources options should be part of the discussion.
  Trade and growth: driving prosperity and securing strategic influence  
  • We are the party of free trade. Open trade continues to drive growth and innovation, supporting jobs across Europe. It is essential that we continue to seize these opportunities to reinforce the foundations of our social market economy – combining economic competitiveness with social cohesion and deliver on the promise of a better tomorrow for our citizens.
  • In today’s global landscape, trade is a more than just an economic tool, it is a geopolitical instrument. In an era of global realignment, Europe most lead – not retreat. At the same time, trade policy must return to its fundamental purpose—advancing trade. We should prioritize the conclusion of concrete trade agreements rather than pursuing overly expansive or diffuse frameworks. We support advancing trade partnerships and concluding key agreements – such as with South America, provided they include concrete measures to protect our farmers and sensitive sectors. We further support completing more trade agreements with e.g. India, the Philippines, Australia and our partner countries in the Southern Neighbourhood.
  • We back strong, effective measures to level the global playing field and address unfair trade practices that distort competition and undermine our industries. We call for firm action to counter economic coercion in all its forms, ensuring that Europe can act with sovereignty and strength on the global stage.
  • We also support initiatives like the ‘zero-for-zero’ tariff initiative on cars and industrial goods with the United States as part of a broader agenda to deepen and strengthen transatlantic economic ties.
  • The single market is our strongest asset: we welcome the forward-looking initiatives of the European Commission to implement proven growth-enhancing reforms in the Draghi report. To benefit from its full potential, we have to be bold, in particular on energy, services, telecom and financial services. We have to move and act fast, the time for reflection is over. Furthermore, all Member States must also carry out necessary national reforms in order to increase competitiveness.
  Ambitious climate goals, economic prosperity and social fairness are intertwined  
  • We combine economic growth with climate responsibility. We stand by the Paris climate agreement and Europe’s ambitious climate goals. We support a climate policy driven by innovation, investment, and responsibility - not by radical bans or ideology. Based on the strategic orientation decided by EPP Leaders in their retreat in Berlin earlier this year, the European Commission has taken significant initiatives to bring responses (omnibuses, compliance for car industry, clean industrial deal). We ask for fast track procedures to turn this legislation into reality as swifty as possible.
  • We stick to an ambitious approach to fight climate change. We will achieve our targets for 2030 because we have created all the conditions to do so. At the same time, we need to adapt the current legislation to the new global realities and challenges. For families and companies alike, costs have increased significantly and people struggle to make ends meet. It is our duty to help solve the problems of today. No-one left behind, no industry overburdened by energy costs and no city, region or Member State left alone: this is our real goal. We can succeed only together. We are ambitious, yet pragmatic.
  • We underline the importance of regional energy cooperation as a pillar of EU energy diversification and strategic autonomy. We support the continued expansion of energy interconnectivity projects, both among all EU Member States and with neighbouring third countries, as a means to strengthen energy security and integration.
  The Middle East is key for Europe’s responsibility in the world.  
  • We stand for peace, security, and stability in the Middle East. The EPP firmly supports Israel’s right to exist and defend itself against terrorism and existential threats. Hostages held by Hamas must be released immediately. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unacceptable and requires urgent international action. We call for full respect of international law and the protection of civilians on all sides.
  • A stable Middle East is key to regional and global security. We are committed to creating the conditions for lasting peace through renewed dialogue toward a two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the shared capital, stronger regional cooperation, and the empowerment of moderate and responsible actors, including in the Gulf and as partners of the upcoming New Pact for the Mediterranean. We reiterate that Iran’s nuclear programme violates the provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and poses a serious threat to all of us. The Iranian regime must renounce its nuclear programme as well as the development of ballistic missiles that could threaten Israel and Europe. We call for immediate de-escalation to avoid an all-out war that could spiral across the Middle East and beyond.
  Combatting illegal migration remains a priority for us, and we will continue strengthening our tools  
  • We bring control to the EU’s external borders. Thanks to comprehensive agreements with our neighbouring countries and the strict controls on our external borders, we have drastically reduced the number of arrivals. This is the right approach and we have to go further.
  • The proposed concept for safe third countries, the new return regulation, necessary physical infrastructure and legal clarity for the functioning of „return hubs“ including outside of the EU have to be swiftly adopted by the co-legislators. The full implementation of the migration pact is key, but we should do more and faster. We need to develop further measures complementing the Pact for arrivals to go down.
  • We stick to Schengen, but not a Schengen for smugglers. We need to send a strong signal to smugglers and to those who abuse the system. Securing the effective and strict protection of our external land and sea borders is the prerequisite for a fully functioning Schengen area. Therefore, we will define milestones to achieve this as a matter of urgency. Full freedom of movement inside the Schengen Area continues to be our aim. We also support Cyprus’ aspiration to fully join the Schengen area in 2026, and we call on the European Commission to actively promote and accelerate this process.
  On the Cyprus question  
  • The reunification of Cyprus is a priority for us and will serve as a catalyst for EU-Turkey relations and for the broader region. We welcome the re-appointment of Ms. Maria-Angela Holguin as the UN Secretary General’s personal envoy on Cyprus and of Johannes Hahn as the European Union’s Special Envoy for Cyprus, as a tangible step for more active EU involvement in the UN-led efforts. In this regard, we look forward to the next enlarged meeting to be convened by the UN Secretary-General at the end of July.



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For more information contact:

 

Angelos Athanasopoulos

National and Regional Press Director

+32 471 90 76 35

aa@epp.eu

 

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EPP leaders to meet in Brussels on 26 June ahead of European Council - list of participants
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