Michel previews Versailles informal meeting: strengthening sovereignty, reducing dependencies and developing a new growth model

Russian aggression against Ukraine and its consequences will be at the heart of the informal meeting of the members of the European Council that will take place in Versailles on 10 and 11 March, announced its President Charles Michel. The meeting will be hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.

In his invitation letter ahead of the meeting, Charles Michel said the focus would be on bolstering the EU’s defence capabilities, reducing its energy dependency, in particular on Russian gas, oil and coal, and building a more robust economic base.

“Over the past years, faced with multiple crises and challenges, we engaged together on an ambitious strategic agenda. In the light of recent events, it is more urgent than ever that we take decisive steps towards building our sovereignty, reducing our dependencies and designing a new growth and investment model,” said Michel.

According to the President, on the first day members will focus on the situation in Ukraine, as well as on defence and energy. 11 March will be devoted to the EU’s new growth and investment model.

Find out more

Press release