Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union institutions in Brussels published the joint statement following the summit that brought together the leaders of the European Union and the United States of America, which the latter hosted. The first part of the statement focused on political and security issues, while the second part dealt with economic files.
The United States, the European Union and its member states, representing nearly 800 million citizens, united by our values and bound by the most dynamic economic relationship on Earth, reaffirm our commitment to a transatlantic partnership that serves all our peoples, the statement said. Since the last US-EU summit in June 2021, the world has changed in unprecedented ways, and we have taken ambitious steps in response. We work together to secure peace, stability and prosperity regionally and around the world, including our unwavering support for Ukraine. We are deepening our cooperation to reflect the pressing challenges and opportunities of our time – strengthening our economic security; promoting reliable, sustainable, affordable and safe energy transitions in our economies and the world; promoting multilateralism and international cooperation; Harnessing digital technologies to work for our shared values of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, not against them. We are more united than ever.
Towards a safer and more stable world
 
The situation in the Middle East
. We condemn in the strongest possible terms Hamas and its brutal terrorist attacks throughout Israel. There is no justification for terrorism. We affirm Israel's right to defend itself against these heinous attacks, in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law. We will work closely with partners in the region to emphasize the importance of protecting civilians, supporting those trying to reach safety or providing assistance, and facilitating access to food, water, medical care and shelter. We are concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It is necessary to prevent regional escalation. We call for the immediate release of all hostages, and affirm our shared view that the two-state solution remains the right path to lasting peace.
Russia's war against Ukraine and support for regional stability
. The United States and the European Union remain steadfast in our long-term political, financial, humanitarian, and military support for Ukraine and its people as they defend themselves against Russia's unlawful and unjustified war of aggression. We stand together in calling on Russia to end its brutal war and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its military forces, proxies and military equipment from the entire internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. We are committed to achieving the broadest possible international support for the main principles and objectives of the peace formula in Ukraine. Any initiative to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine must be based on full respect for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders, and adherence to all the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
. We are committed to supporting Ukraine as much as it takes to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We recognize the urgent need to ensure that Russia does not succeed in collapsing the Ukrainian economy, and are intensifying our efforts to help ensure that assistance meets Ukraine's highest priority needs. As co-chairs, together with Ukraine, of the Multi-Agency Donor Coordination Platform, we are working with Ukraine in developing its plan for Ukraine, embedded in its European Pathway, to integrate a common set of priority economic rules in the near term. Law, democratization reforms and a prioritized and well-coordinated approach to aid recovery, reconstruction and investment. The United States and the European Union, along with other international donors, will continue to provide Ukraine with financing to help achieve these goals, including defending, reforming, and rebuilding the energy sector in line with EU standards. We acknowledge Ukraine's commitment and progress in its reform efforts, and underscore the strategic importance of its accession process to the European Union.
. Russia must stop its aggression and must bear the legal consequences of all its internationally wrongful actions, including compensation for damage to Ukraine. We are united in our determination to ensure full accountability. In light of the urgency to obstruct Russia's attempts to destroy the Ukrainian economy and Russia's continued failure to adhere to its obligations under international law, the United States and the European Union, along with our allies, call on our experts to explore options for compensating Ukraine. Timely response to losses, injuries and damage caused by Russian aggression. We are exploring all possible avenues to assist Ukraine, consistent with our legal systems and international law. We are also working alongside the global community to address the energy, economic, and food security challenges resulting from Russia's war of choice, which is particularly acute in the most vulnerable developing countries. We condemn Russia's attempts to prevent food exports and its attacks on grain storage and shipping facilities in Ukraine since its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The EU's solidarity pathways remain useful in strengthening global food security.
. As part of our efforts to assist Ukraine, in the short term, we will explore how any extraordinary revenues held by private entities arise directly from frozen Russian sovereign assets where such extraordinary revenues are not required to meet their obligations to Russia.Under applicable laws. It can be directed to support Ukraine in its recovery and reconstruction in accordance with applicable laws.
. We will deepen our joint work to undermine Russia's ability to wage war, and to maintain and expand its defense industrial base and capabilities. Those who help Russia obtain items or equipment for its defense industrial base support actions that undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. This includes companies that supply Russia with certain critical raw materials and high-priority materials, as well as financial institutions and other entities that facilitate such transfers. We will target third-country actors who financially support the Russian war. We will continue to aggressively and jointly enforce our sanctions and export control measures to disrupt fraud and backfill. Our joint implementation of G7+ price caps for Russian-sourced seaborne crude oil and petroleum products supports energy market stability while reducing Russia's ability to finance its illegal war. We intend to act, consistent with our legal authorities, when we have evidence indicating violations or deceptive practices related to the price cap policy.
. We reaffirm our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova. Last June, the European Council decided to grant candidate state status to the Republic of Moldova. We will continue to support Moldova in addressing the challenges it faces as a result of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and in reform efforts on its European path. We remain fully committed to supporting Georgia's territorial integrity, sovereignty and European perspective. We reaffirm our shared commitment to stability in the Western Balkans and our support for the European Union's perspective in the region. All partners should continue to make the reforms required to advance their European path. We note the need for Kosovo and Serbia to urgently de-escalate tensions and implement the agreement quickly and unconditionally on the path to normalizing their relations and returning to the dialogue facilitated by the European Union. We remain committed to promoting lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the basis of mutual recognition of sovereignty, inviolability of borders and territorial integrity. We urge Azerbaijan to guarantee the rights and security of those who remain in Nagorno-Karabakh as well as those who wish to return to their homes. We also call on all parties to adhere to the principle of non-use of force and the threat of force.
Africa
. The United States and the European Union share a common interest in a prosperous, peaceful, democratic, and resilient Africa, and welcome the African Union as a permanent member of the G20. We will work together to further enhance the synergies in our cooperation with all our African partners. We are committed to promoting security, stability and prosperity in North Africa. We reaffirm our commitment to confronting common security challenges in the Sahel region, including the fight against terrorism, in cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States.
Partnership in the Indo-Pacific region
. We reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening coordination and cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region with the aim of contributing to stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development in the region, on the basis of strengthening democracy and the rule of law. Law, human rights and international law. Consistent with our Indo-Pacific strategies, we will seek opportunities to enhance practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, including through the biannual US-EU Indo-Pacific consultations. This includes expanding maritime domain awareness, encouraging communications cooperation, responding to foreign information manipulation and interference, increasing coordination in cyber cooperation, and encouraging continued efforts to uphold fundamental freedoms and human rights. We reaffirm our firm support for the centrality and unity of ASEAN and our commitment to enhancing cooperation in line with ASEAN's expectations for the Indo-Pacific region. We also reaffirm our partnership with Pacific Island countries and reaffirm the importance of supporting their priorities and needs in accordance with the Pacific Islands Forum's 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy.
. We reiterate our support for international law, in particular as reflected in UNCLOS, and for the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, including within the framework of the dispute settlement mechanisms of UNCLOS.
China
. The United States and the European Union recall our discussions in other forums, including the G7, about the principles underpinning our relations with China. We are willing to build constructive and stable relations with China, and we recognize the importance of dealing frankly with China and expressing our concerns directly to it. It is necessary to cooperate with China, given its role in the international community and the size of its economy, in confronting global challenges and in areas of common interest. We call on China to engage with us, including in international fora, in areas such as the climate and biodiversity crisis, addressing vulnerable countries' debt sustainability and financing needs, global health and pandemic preparedness, and macroeconomic stability.
. To enable sustainable economic relations with China, we will push for equal opportunities for our companies and workers. We do not separate or turn inward. At the same time, we recognize that economic resilience requires risk reduction and diversification. In this context, we will invest in our economic vitality and reduce dependencies and critical vulnerabilities, including in our supply chains. We also recognize the need to protect some advanced technologies that could be used to threaten global peace and security , without unjustifiably restricting trade and investment. We will work to strengthen resilience to economic coercion. We will address the challenges posed by non-market policies and practices.
. We remain deeply concerned about the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea and strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. We stress the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and encourage a peaceful solution to cross-Strait issues. There has been no change in the one-China policy pursued by the United States or the European Union.
. We will continue to express our concerns about human rights and forced labor in China, including in Tibet and Xinjiang. Regarding Hong Kong, we call on China to respect its previous commitments with respect to Hong Kong under the Chinese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.
  . We call on China to pressure Russia to stop its war of aggression, and withdraw its forces from Ukraine immediately, completely and unconditionally. We encourage China to support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on territorial integrity and the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter, including through its direct dialogue with Ukraine.
Strengthening cooperation in the fields of security and defense
. We will continue to strengthen and deepen cooperation and engagement between the European Union and the United States in the areas of security and defense. This could include enhancing practical cooperation in theaters of mutual interest. NATO remains the foundation of its allies' collective defense and essential to Euro-Atlantic security. We recognize the value of a stronger, more capable European defense that contributes positively to global and transatlantic security and is complementary and interoperable with NATO. We welcome the signing of administrative arrangements between the US Department of Defense and the European Defense Agency.