European Council in Brussels

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and the EU Heads of State and Government met in Brussels for the European Council hosted by Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council. The first working session focused on the European Semester, Justice and Home Affairs, and Energy Security and Climate Change.
The leaders also met with Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine. Subsequently, José Manuel Barroso and Herman van Rompuy discussed with the latter the situation in his country during a working lunch. The EU Heads of State and Government finally discussed the candidacy of the next President of the European Commission and approved the EU’s strategic priorities for the coming years.
On the same day, the Association Agreements with Georgia and Moldova were signed and the signing process with Ukraine was completed, each of which provides for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).